leitmotif
1 synonym for leitmotif, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A tune linked to one character, place or idea, repeated through an opera.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
leitmotiv
Etymology
From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera. The spelling was influenced by motif.
Full origin of leitmotif →